FireDrone Receives €161K from Venture Kick for Heat-Resistant Drones
Swiss startup FireDrone, an Empa spin-off, secured €161,000 (CHF 150,000) from Venture Kick to advance its development of heat-resistant drones designed for extreme environments.
Enhancing Safety in High-Risk Operations
The company creates technologies aimed at improving safety during emergency responses and industrial inspections. Their drones are engineered to protect people, infrastructure, and the environment while enhancing operational safety worldwide.
Challenges Faced by Firefighters and Safety Teams
- Operating in dangerous, high-temperature settings such as burning buildings or industrial furnaces.
- Dealing with risks like toxic smoke, unstable structures, and intense heat.
- Limitations of conventional drones, which often fail in these harsh conditions, restricting real-time situational awareness.
FireDrone’s Technological Solution
FireDrone develops autonomous drones capable of withstanding temperatures around 200°C. The drones feature thermal insulation and cooling systems that enable real-time hazard detection where standard drones cannot function effectively.
FireDrone’s platform "supports safety, reduces downtime, and informs operational decisions."
Target Markets and Applications
The startup focuses on two main sectors:
- High-temperature industrial inspections
- Public safety and emergency response
Its initial markets include cement, steel, aluminium, waste-to-energy, fertiliser, and glass production industries, alongside first-responder scenarios hindered by heat and smoke conditions.
FireDrone’s innovation aims to keep operations safer in environments where traditional drones cannot operate, empowering industries and emergency teams with better situational awareness.